23

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of coal to Singapore from Westport for the Admiralty, and also that the Union Steamship Company's ships " Katoa " and " Wan aka " should on their way back from Singapore to New Zealand be allowed to load fertilizers in Australia, which are urgently needed here. Prime Minister presses for an early reply.—Liverpool. From Secretary of State for the Colonies to Governor of New Zealand. Dated 24th April, received 25th April, 1916. At request of His Majesty's Government, Government of the Commonwealth of Australia are sending transports " Borda " and "Afric" to Wellington to load frozen meat. Date of arrival at Wellington will be telegraphed later. It is requested that utmost despatch may be given in New Zealand.—Bonar Law. From Governor of New Zealand to Governor-General of Commonwealth of Australia. 27th June, 1916. Information has reached my Prime Minister indicating that the Australasian Refrigerated Tonnage Committee, London, are counting on further transports being sent to New Zealand from Australia to load frozen meat, as the "Afric" and "Borda" represent only half the equivalent of the two vessels released' by New Zealand for Australian requirements. Prime Minister adds that the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners' Committee hold a copy of letter dated 2nd May from the Board of Trade to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that if cargo-ships for Australian wheat were provided by New Zealand an equivalent meat tonnage in transport w r ould be provided by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia for New Zealand, and requesting that Secretary of State for the Colonies ask Your Excellency to make necessary arrangements with your Government. My Government would be glad to know by telegraph what action your Government contemplates taking in the matter.—Liverpool. From Governor-General of Commonwealth of Australia to Governor of New Zealand. 3rd July, 1916. With reference to your telegram of 27th June respecting frozen meat: Understood by Government of the Commonwealth of Australia that the two ships referred to were released by Admiralty. "Afric" and "Borda" were the only ships which could then be spared by Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, and position is.now much more acute, being height of season Queensland. All available refrigerated transport tonnage is required for Army meat from Australia, and Board of Trade recently informed Commonwealth Prime Minister that diversion of Australian refrigerated tonnage to New Zealand if required in Australia was never contemplated.—GovernorGeneral of Australia. From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. 27th June, 1916. My Prime Minister hopes that His Majesty's Government will give careful consideration to the question of clearing all meat from the refrigerating stores in New Zealand before new season's consignment arrives. Information has reached Prime Minister that there is likelihood of there being a shortage of tonnage. There will be left at the end of September in the refrigerator stores approximately 900,000 carcases of 601b. after all available steamers have been despatched, and this quantity of meat is sufficient to fill eight to ten additional steamers. In these circumstances Prime Minister trusts that Imperial Government will do all in their power to assist Government of New 'Zealand.—Liverpool. From Secretary of State for the Colonies to Governor of New Zealand. Dated 14th July, received 15th July, 1916. With reference to your telegram of 27th June : Matter receiving anxious consideration of. His Majesty's Government, and every effort will be made to clear stores before new season opens. Board of Trade inform me that unusual shortage shipments in spring was partly due to outwardbound vessels being delayed by bad weather, but partly also to labour difficulties in New Zealand ports.—Bonar Law. From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. 22nd July, 1916. Quite recently Prime Minister asked freezing companies to carefully revise the figures in respect of killings of stock for months of August and September which had been previously furnished in order that Board of Trade might be acquainted with position as at the end of September. This information is now to hand, and Prime Minister advises that after taking into account the meat for which space will be provided in steamers to load during August and September approximately 1,000,000 carcases of 601b. will remain for which shipping facilities will be required to clear freezing-stores. In these circumstances Prime Minister trusts that required tonnage will be provided to enable freezing-stores to be cleared prior to commencement of new season's operations. Prime Minister also desires that consideration may be given to release of New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer "Hororata," which was built for the New Zealand trade, but which was requisitioned by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, and has been in its employ since the outbreak of war. This steamer is a large meat-carrier, and her release would be of great benefit in assisting to clear freezing-stores. Prime Minister has been informed by owners that during her last voyage from Australia to England she carried cargo which in no way represented value to the Empire compared with loading meat in New Zealand. —Liverpool,